Kandal Provincial Court charged a 22-year-old woman with murder yesterday for allegedly killing her 6-year-old niece by stabbing her in the neck in Koh Thom district’s Prek Thmei commune, police and court officials said yesterday.
Meas Sal was arrested Thursday in Chroy Takeo commune around two hours after she allegedly killed Chen Leangheng, according to district police chief Phorn Saroeun.
Ms Sal allegedly took her niece by bicycle to a secluded area around 6 km from the victim’s home, stabbed her in the neck twice with a knife and tossed her in a ditch, Mr Saroeun said. A fisherman nearby heard the victim screaming and tried to save her while others informed police, he added.
“When I arrived there the victim had died,” Mr Saroeun said, adding that witnesses told police they saw Ms Sal fleeing the scene.
Ms Sal allegedly confessed to the crime, saying that she was angry at the victim’s mother, her sister-in-law, for talking behind her back to villagers, according to Meur Chantha, provincial penal police chief.
“The suspect confessed that she killed the victim out of revenge because the victim’s parents always speak about her and embarrass her,” he said.
Kandal court prosecutor Ouk Kimsith said that Ms Sal was charged yesterday with murder.
“The suspect is being held in provisional detention at the provincial prison while the judge investigates,” he said.
